Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Exercise and Nutrition in Older Canadian Women

Opportunities for Community Intervention

  • Published:
Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The objectives of this study were to examine age differences in the extent to which older Canadian women exercise and eat nutritiously, and to identify the interventions they desire to help them adopt and maintain physical and nutritional fitness.

Methods

A cross-sectional postal survey of 5,000 community-dwelling women aged 55–95 was conducted across Canada in October 2003. The survey queried exercise frequency, nutritional risk, functional status, and factors deemed facilitative to adopting and maintaining a physically fit and nutritiously healthy lifestyle.

Results

Data from 2,484 women were available for analysis; 31% were 75 years and older. Among women aged 55–74 versus those over age 75, 62% compared to 56% reported exercising 3 times/week for 20 minutes or longer (p=0.003), 33% in both age groups were eating nutritiously, and 24% compared to 21% were both exercising and eating nutritiously. Thirty-five percent of women aged 55–74 who were not exercising or eating nutritiously desired increased availability of low-cost, suitable health promotion programs and additional written materials to improve these health habits, compared to 25% of women in the 75 year and older group (p<0.001). Improved transportation to programs was the only intervention preferred by women aged 75 years and older (OR 1.66 (1.30–2.11)). Sedentary women and those at higher nutritional risk were two to three times more likely to identify encouragement from health professionals (OR 1.93 (1.48–2.52)), as well as from family and friends (OR 3.03 (1.89–4.85)) as important facilitators.

Interpretation

Women aged 55–74 who do not exercise and eat nutritiously are most receptive to a variety of health-promoting community interventions.

Résumé

Introduction

Cette étude, menée auprès de Canadiennes âgées, visait à examiner les différences liées à l’âge dans le niveau d’activité physique et les habitudes alimentaires et à répertorier les interventions préférées par ces femmes, afin de les aider à adopter et à conserver un bon régime d’exercice et d’alimentation.

Méthode

Une enquête postale transversale a été menée en octobre 2003 auprès de 5 000 femmes de 55 à 95 ans résidant dans la communauté un peu partout au Canada. Les questions de l’enquête portaient sur la fréquence de l’activité physique, le risque nutritionnel, l’état fonctionnel et les facteurs facilitant l’adoption et le maintien de bonnes habitudes de vie en matière d’activité physique et d’alimentation.

Résultats

L’analyse a porté sur des données provenant de 2 484 femmes; 31 % avaient 75 ans et plus. Chez les femmes de 55 à 74 ans, 62 % ont indiqué qu’elles pratiquaient une activité physique trois fois par semaine pendant 20 minutes ou plus (p=0,003), contre 56 % des femmes de 75 ans et plus. Dans les deux groupes d’âge, 33 % avaient une alimentation adéquate. La proportion des femmes qui faisaient de l’exercice et s’alimentaient bien était de 24 % chez les 55 à 74 ans et de 21 % chez les 75 ans et plus. Trente-cinq p. cent des femmes de 55 à 74 ans et 25 % des femmes de 75 ans et plus (p<0,001) qui ne faisaient pas d’exercice ou qui ne mangeaient pas bien ont exprimé le souhait d’avoir un meilleur accès à des programmes de promotion de la santé accessibles et économiques, de même qu’à des informations écrites, pour leur permettre d’améliorer leurs habitudes de santé. Chez les participantes de 75 ans et plus, la seule intervention souhaitée était d’avoir accès à des transports améliorés (RC=1,66 [1,30–2,11]). Les sédentaires et les femmes présentant un risque nutritionnel élevé étaient de deux à trois fois plus susceptibles de mentionner l’encouragement des professionnels de la santé (RC=1,93 [1,48–2,52]) et l’encouragement de la famille et des amis (RC=3,03 [1,89-4,85]) comme étant des facteurs importants d’une amélioration de leurs habitudes de vie.

Interprétation

Les femmes de 55 à 74 ans qui sont sédentaires et dont l’alimentation est sousoptimale sont plus ouvertes à un éventail d’interventions communautaires de promotion de la santé.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Canadian Statistics — Population by age and sex group, October 2003. Available online at: http://www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/demo10a.htm (Accessed January 27, 2004).

  2. Canadian Statistics — Population Projections for 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021. CANSIM II, http://www.statcan.ca.

  3. Health Canada: Division of Aging and Seniors. Target Groups Project by Statistics Canada 2000–2001. Canada’s Seniors statistical snapshot, No. 38: Life expectancy longer for senior women.

  4. Statistics Canada. Health Reports 2001;12(3). Catalogue 82–003.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hopman WM, Towheed T, Anastassiades T, Tenenhouse A, Poliquin S, Berger C, et al. Canadian normative data for the SF-36 Health Survey. CMAJ 2000;163:265–71.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Green CA, Pope, CR. Gender, psychosocial factors and the use of medical services: A longitudinal analysis. Soc Sci Med 1999;48:1363–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Steckenrider, JS. Long-term care: A woman’s world. J Health Human Serv Admin 2000;22:452–71.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Health Canada: Division of Aging and Seniors. Target Groups Project by Statistics Canada 2000–2001. Canada’s Seniors statistical snapshot, No. 6: Most live at home.

  9. Bryant T, Brown I, Cogan T, Dallaire C, Laforest S, McGowan P, et al. What do Canadian seniors say supports their quality of life? Findings from a national participatory research study. Can J Public Health 1994;95:299–303.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Tannenbaum C, Nasmith L, Mayo N. Understanding older women’s health care concerns in late life: A qualitative study. J Women Aging 2003;15:3–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Manson JE, Greenland P, LaCroix AZ, Stefanick ML, Mouton CP, Oberman A, et al. Walking compared with vigorous exercise for the prevention of cardiovascular events in women. N Engl J Med 2002;347:716–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Brach JS, FitzGerald S, Newman AB, Kelsey S, Kuller L, VanSwearingen JM, et al. Physical activity and functional status in communitydwelling older women. Arch Intern Med 2003;163:2565–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical activity and health — A report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 1996.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  14. Lee C, Russell A. Effects of physical activity on emotional well-being among older Australian women. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. J Psychosom Res 2003;54:155–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Fiaterone Singh, MA. Exercise, Nutrition and the Older Woman: Wellness for Women Over Fifty. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press LLC, 2000.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  16. Meydani M. Nutrition interventions in aging and age-associated disease. Ann NY Acad Sci 2001;928:226–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Patterson AJ, Young AF, Powers JR, Brown WJ, Byles, JE. Relationships between nutrition screening checklists and the health and well-being of older Australian women. Public Health Nutr 2002;5:65–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Barnett A, Smith B, Lord SR, Williams M, Baumand A. Community-based group exercise improves balance and reduces falls in at-risk older people: A randomised controlled trial. Age Ageing 2003;32:407–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Payette H, Boutier V, Coulombe C, Gray-Donald K. Benefits of nutritional supplementation in free-living, frail, undernourished elderly people: A prospective randomized community trial. J Am Diet Assoc 2002;102:1088–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Health Canada. Physical activity of Canadians. 2.7 Older adults aged 55 and over. National Population Health Survey Highlights, November 1999;2.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Canadian Heart Health Surveys: A Profile of Cardiovascular Risk. Health Canada. Heart and Stroke in Canada 1997. Available online at: https://doi.org/www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/hdsc97/ s06_e.html (Accessed May 2, 2007).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Shatenstein B, Kergoat MJ, Nadon S. Weight change, nutritional risk and its determinants among cognitively intact and demented elderly Canadians. Can J Public Health 2001;92:143–49.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Tangney CC, Evans DA, Bienias JL, Morris, MC. Healthy eating index of black and white older adults. Nutr Res 2001;21:1411–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wakimoto P, Block G. Dietary intake, dietary patterns and changes with age: Epidemiological perspective. J Gerontol Biol Sci Med Sci 2001;56A:65–80.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Macdonald SM, Reeder BA, Chen Y, Despres, JP. Obesity in Canada: A descriptive analysis. Canadian Heart Health Surveys Research Group. CMAJ 1997;157:S3-S9.

  26. Kuczmarski RJ, Flegal KM, Campbell SM, Johnson, CL. Increasing prevalence of overweight among US adults: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1960 to 1991. JAMA 1994;272:205–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Shatenstein B, Nadon S, Ferland G. Determinants of diet quality among Quebecers aged 55–74. J Nutr Health Aging 2004;8:83–91.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Johnson, CS. Psychosocial correlates of nutritional risk in older adults. Can J Diet Pract Res 2005;66:95–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Locher JL, Ritchie CS, Roth DL, Baker PS, Bodner EV, Allman, RM. Social isolation, support, and capital and nutritional risk in an older sample: Ethnic and gender differences. Soc Sci Med 2005;60:747–61.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Johnson CA, Corrigan SA, Dubbert PM, Gramling, SE. Perceived barriers to exercise and weight control practices in community women. Women Health 1990;16:177–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Connell CM, Davies RM, Rosenberg AM, Fisher Jr, EB. Retiree’s perceived incentives and barriers to participation in health promotion activities. Health Educ Res — Theory Pract 1988;3:325–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Jones M, Nies, MA. The relationship of perceived benefits of and barriers to reported exercise in older African American women. Public Health Nurs 1996;13:151–58.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Cohen-Mansfield J, Marx MS, Biddison JR, Guralnik, JM. Socio-environmental exercise pbl]References among older adults. Prev Med 2004;38:804–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Lees FD, Clark PG, Nigg CR, Newman P. Barriers to exercise behavior among older adults: A focus-group study. J Aging Phys Act 2005;13:23–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Booth ML, Bauman A, Owen N, Gore, CJ. Physical activity pbl]References, preferred sources of assistance, and perceived barriers to increased activity among physically inactive Australians. Prev Med 1997;26:131–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Crombie IK, Irvine L, Williams B, McGinnis AR, Slane PW, Alder EM, McMurdo, ME. Why older people do not participate in leisure time physical activity: A survey of activity levels, beliefs and deterrents. Age Ageing 2004;33:287–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Health Canada: Division of Aging and Seniors. Target Groups Project by Statistics Canada 2000–2001. Canada’s Seniors statistical snapshot, No. 1: A growing population.

  38. Tannenbaum C, Mayo N, Ducharme F. Older women’s health priorities and perceptions of care delivery: Results of the WOW health survey. CMAJ 2005;173:153–59.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Keller HH, Hedley MR, Wong Brownlee S. The development of Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition (SCREEN). Can J Diet Pract Res 2000;61:67–72.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Keller HH, McKenzie JD, Goy, RE. Construct validation and test-retest reliability of the Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition Questionnaire. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med-Sci 2001;56A:M552–M558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Ware JE, Kosinski M, Keller, SD. A 12-item short-form health survey: Construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and validity. Med Care 1996;34:220–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Ware JE, Kosinski M, Keller, SD. SF-36 Physical and mental health summary scales: A User’s Manual. The Health Institute, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts. December, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Finch E, Brooks D, Stratford PW, Mayo NE (Eds.). Physical Rehabilitation Outcome Measures: A Guide to Enhanced Clinical Decision Making, 2nd, ed. Canadian Physiotherapy Association, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Spence JC, Plotnikoff RC, Mummery, WK. The awareness and use of Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living. Can J Public Health 2002;93:394–96.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Bryan SN, Tremblay MS, Pérez CE, Ardern CI, Katzmarzyk, PT. Physical activity and ethnicity: Evidence from the Canadian Community Health Survey. Can J Public Health 2006;97:271–76.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Bruce MJ, Katzmarzyk, PT. Canadian population trends in leisure-time physical activity levels, 1981–1998. Can J Appl Physiol 2002;27:681–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Reeves MJ, Rafferty, AP. Healthy lifestyle characteristics among adults in the United States, 2000. Arch Intern Med 2005;165:854–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Pronk NP, Anderson LH, Crain AL, Martinson BC, O’Connor PJ, Sherwood NE, Whitebird, RR. Meeting recommendations for multiple healthy lifestyle factors. Prevalence, clustering, and predictors among adolescent, adult, and senior health plan members. Am J Prev Med 2004;(2 Suppl):25–33.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Brach JS, Simonsick EM, Kritchevsky S, Yaffe K, Newman AB; Health, Aging and Body Composition Study Research Group. The association between physical function and lifestyle activity and exercise in the health, aging and body composition study. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004;52:502–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Laing MM, Reid D. Food and Nutrition Opportunities in the Seniors’ Market: A Situation Analysis. Ottawa, ON: National Institute of Nutrition, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Keller HH, Hedley, MR. Nutritional risk needs assessment of community-living seniors: Prevalence of nutrition problems and priorities for action. J Community Health 2002;27:121–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Iwai N, Hisamichi S, Hayakawa N, Inaba Y, Nagaoka T, Sugimori H, et al. Validity and reliability of single-item questions about physical activity. J Epidemiol 2001;11:211–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Weiss TW, Slater CH, Green LW, Kennedy VC, Albright DL, Wun, CC. The validity of singleitem, self-assessment questions as measures of adult physical activity. J Clin Epidemiol 1990;43:1123–29.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Strath SJ, Bassett DR Jr, Ham SA, Swartz, AM. Assessment of physical activity by telephone interview versus objective monitoring. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2003;35:2112–18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Université de Montréal, 4565 Queen Mary Road, Suite 7824, Montreal, QC, H3W 1W5, Canada

    Cara Tannenbaum MD (Research Scientist, Assistant Professor of Medicine) & Bryna Shatenstein PhD, PDt (Research Scientist)

Authors
  1. Cara Tannenbaum MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bryna Shatenstein PhD, PDt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cara Tannenbaum MD.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Cara Tannenbaum is the recipient of a Junior Chercheur-Boursier Clinicien Award from the Fonds de recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ); Bryna Shatenstein is Associate Professor, Département de nutrition, Université de Montréal and holds a Senior Chercheur-Boursier Clinicien Award from the FRSQ.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tannenbaum, C., Shatenstein, B. Exercise and Nutrition in Older Canadian Women. Can J Public Health 98, 187–193 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403710

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403710

MeSH terms

Search

Navigation